Ambassador’s Speech at the Announcement ceremony of the prize-winning associations that will benefit from grants to associations under the Support Project for Civil Society Involvement in the Local Development Process.
November 21, 2022
Distinguished Guests,
I would like to thank you for your presence today to award the first phase of grants provided by USAID’s Project to Support Civil Society Engagement in Djibouti’s Local Development Process. All Djiboutians have a role to play in development, whether they are in government or civil society.
This project, which began in November 2021, will last four years with a total budget of $10 million dollars. Twenty-four associations have been selected to receive training to strengthen their organizational capacities. The project also provides a common workspace in each of Djibouti’s five regions for these organizations. After training, each association will receive $10,000 to implement a project to advance a public interest. The goal of these grants is to support the development of an ecosystem conducive to increased citizen participation in Djibouti’s local development process.
To the association members, I encourage you to collaborate and work together in mutual support in your regions. You have an important role to play in ensuring the local authorities hear from citizens and can support their efforts to provide services to the populations.
To all the Regional Council Presidents present here today, thank you for your involvement in this project. Your support is critical to the emergence of an empowered and participatory civil society.
Finally, to everyone, I wish you great success as you collaborate to help all Djiboutians have a voice in securing Djibouti’s stability and prosperity.
Thank you.
